State pension claimants in 2024/25

Nearly a quarter of people who started claiming the state pension in the 2024/25 tax year didn't get the full amount.

Full pension rate for 2024/25

76% of 776,330 new state pension claimants received the maximum weekly rate of £221.20.

Low pension recipients

16% received less than £200 a week, 3% received less than £100 a week.

2025/26 pension data

489,730 people claimed the new state pension between April 2025 and November 2025.

Full pension rate for 2025/26

71% of 489,730 new state pension claimants received the full rate of £230.25.

Why pension amounts vary

Some people have gaps in their NI record or were contracted out under old state pension system.

Sarah Pennells on low pensions

We often talk about the full state pension amount, but one in four pensioners claiming last year got less.

“We often talk about the full state pension amount, but as these figures show, approximately one in four pensioners claiming last year got less”

Steve Webb on low pensions

People short of full rate may have lower NI contributions or gaps in their record.

“There will always be people short of the full rate. In some cases this will be because of years when they were paying a lower, contracted out, rate of NI contributions, or because they simply have gaps in their record when they were not working or getting NI credits”

State pension entitlement

You need at least 10 qualifying years for minimum pension of £68.90 a week.

How to top up pension

You can fill gaps in your NI record through credits or voluntary contributions.

Claim credits

Specific Adult Childcare Credits available for grandparents caring for children under 12.

Buy missing NI years

Class 3 contributions cost £18.40 a week or £956.80 a year for 2026/27.

Contracted out scheme impact

Three quarters of people reaching state pension age between 2016 and 2036 were in contracted out schemes.

“Although it was abolished in 2016, three quarters of people reaching state pension age between 2016 and 2:036 would have been members of contracted out schemes at some point in their working lives”

When topping up is worth it

Topping up can push you over benefit thresholds or not be worth it for short-lived people.